Sweet 16 Tips Off, St. Patrick’s Crowds Fill Downtown, Phil Collins Tribute Hits Stage
Lexington, KY – March 16, 2026 – Sweet 16 hoops tip off at Rupp, St. Patrick’s festivities fill downtown, and a Phil Collins tribute rocks the Opera House.
It was a busy weekend across Lexington, with basketball fans, festivalgoers and music lovers all finding something to celebrate.
Girls’ Sweet 16 Underway at Rupp Arena
The 2026 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Girls’ Sweet 16 State Basketball Tournament is now underway inside Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Teams from across Kentucky are competing in the 65th installment of the statewide championship, drawing families, students and alumni into downtown throughout the week.
The tournament, a long-standing March tradition in Lexington, is expected to bring a steady boost to local restaurants, hotels and shops as fans fill the arena for first-round matchups and beyond.
St. Patrick’s Parade Brings Green to Downtown
Downtown Lexington was awash in green over the weekend as the annual St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival returned to Tandy Centennial Park and surrounding streets. The event featured live music, family-friendly activities and a festive parade that drew large crowds despite cool March temperatures.
City leaders have continued to spotlight the parade as part of Lexington’s broader 250Lex celebration, highlighting the city’s heritage and community spirit. Businesses along the parade route reported strong foot traffic as residents gathered to celebrate.
Phil Collins Tribute Fills Opera House
Music fans packed the Lexington Opera House Sunday night for In The Air Tonight: The Phil Collins Story. The touring production blends live performance with multimedia elements, tracing the career of the Genesis frontman and solo artist.
The show added to a full weekend calendar downtown, reinforcing Lexington’s reputation as a regional destination for live entertainment.
With championship basketball continuing this week and more spring events on the horizon, March is off to an energetic start in the Horse Capital.
Sources
https://khsaa.org/03-10-26-clarks-pump-n-shop-girls-sweet-16-set-to-tip-off-wednesday/
https://www.herelexingtonky.com/lexington-st-patricks-parade/
https://local.aarp.org/event/in-the-air-tonight-the-phil-collins-story-2026-03-15-tm-lexington-ky.html